As a new and emerging program that is still in its early phases, Niriqatiginnga spends a lot of effort exploring the many different cluster-based models and approaches to northern Indigenous entrepreneurship and food security. From programs in northern Canada and the United States, to countries like Norway and Finland, we’ve learned a lot.

This month, and with a number of conferences and special events to plan for, the Niriqatiginnga team has been discussing the incredibly important need for improved networking, relationship development and engagement with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Many of our conversations and dialogues have highlighted significant systemic barriers and structures that negatively impact northern Indigenous youth, businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs from pursuing entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway.

This particular project is run out of Winnipeg and Headingley, Manitoba, but the majority of participants and their families are from Nunavut’s Kivalliq Region and Northern Manitoba. Many of our participants have physical and mental disabilities that require them to live in Winnipeg, far from home and often disconnected from our culture.

One of the key issues from our conversations has been the need to rejuvenate healthy relationships with local and regional Chambers of Commerce. For a very long time, Chambers of Commerce, which can be found all over the world, have been vital voices and advocates businesses communities.

For those who don’t know, our home region, the Kivalliq Region, is the second largest administrative region of Nunavut. It consists of the portion of the mainland to the west of Hudson Bay together with Southampton Island and Coats Island. The region encompasses approximately 444,622 square kilometers, or about 80% the size of Manitoba which lies directly to the south. It has a population of 11,714 (2022), an increase of 1.4% from 2017.

In almost all our conversations with communities from Winnipeg to Nunavut, a very serious lack of capacity keeps coming up. In some cases, we heard how a lot of programs died out during the pandemic and many communities have struggled to recover.

Many community-based research projects finished and those researchers have moved on with their careers. Students have graduated, and many from the north are struggling with diminished educational outcomes and adapting to life in the city. Youth noted there’s often too much Zoom these days and a big need to “get off the screen” and start engaging in more social activities. Many missed out on social activities during the pandemic.

It’s time to create new programs.

Food security is one of the top issues we’ve heard about as a priority. And that’s one of the reasons we’re designing Niriqatiginnga to focus on the food sector. There are so many opportunities to build new connections and relationships.

But there are other topics too, ranging from declining interest in entrepreneurship, inflation, a lack of capacity and overwhelm at the community level, discrimination and disconnection from opportunities for neighbouring and regional collaboration are just a few of the issues we’ve heard in our consultations.

In addition to the feedback we’ve gotten, many participants commented on how there’s a great need and growing interest and a dire need for more involvement and support from local and regional Chambers of Commerce and industry organizations.

Our project is partly about organizational development, and we want to learn from examples of industry associations, economic advocacy groups and chambers of commerce. We decided to start by looking at three distinct chambers of commerce along the supply chain routes we work with. They are:

The Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance

Founded in 2008, the Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance (MNIBA) was formed in response to the limited Native entrepreneurial and small business growth and development occurring throughout the state. Alliance partners learned that through collaboration and by mobilizing resources outside their immediate control, they achieve their missions far more efficiently, effectively, and sustainably than they could have by working alone.

MNIBA’s partners see the value of shifting focus on their mission, not their organization or interest; on trust, not control; and on being a node, not a hub which has resulted in building and strengthening capacity outside of their individual efforts. MNIBA is a registered 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to “Putting Native Business First.” To accomplish this goal community members, and members of our leadership team met with a facilitator to create a strategic plan.

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1873, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce is the largest organization representing the voice of business in Winnipeg. We have a membership of more than 2,000 companies, representing close to 90,000 employees. As a hub for dialogue and a resource for members, our constant question is: How can we help you? Our Mission To foster an environment in which Winnipeg business can prosper. The Winnipeg Chamber is incredibly active and doing really cool work across Chambers too. They have sections for diversity, equity and inclusion (similar to projects we’ve worked with).

Indigenous Chamber of Commerce

It all started with a small group of business owners meeting over a cup of coffee to discuss areas of common concern and from that meeting, in 2004, the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce was created by bringing northern and southern businesses together to work on common issues.

Throughout the years, its membership has continued to grow, as Manitoba businesses recognize the value of working as a collective on key issues concerning Indigenous business initiatives. Today, their membership is open to both the Indigenous and Non-Indigenous businesses and organizations. Over the years, they have grown to understand that their Chamber can create the partnerships and synergies important to the growth and development of all business in this province. The Indigenous Chamber of Commerce is a model every Chamber of Commerce in Canada should be looking at as a model.

The Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce (KCC)

Founded in 1979, this Chamber of Commerce has been around for almost 45 years. Even though it’s kind of a dead organization these days, it still has immense potential for Manitoba and the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. The Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce’s role is threefold: To act as an advocate on behalf of the Kivalliq business community; to interact with other Chambers in the North and across the country for the good of the Kivalliq business environment; and to assist government and other organizations in the delivery and assessment of programs and support services related to the economy and business community of the Kivalliq Region. Most of their organization and conference sites haven’t been updated in a while so it’s hard to know what they offer.

Inclusivity and Cultural Entrepreneurship:

Some of the other important issues that have been raised for our region were: Enhancing ties with our closest northern business partner, Nunavut; Encouraging and supporting small and medium sized businesses to participate in the economy; Increasing Youth participation in the economy, and Incubating viable education and career pathways for high school students and adult learners.

A major challenge we’re seeing is a general lack of organizational capacity, a lack of information and resources to help connect communities, programs and organizations. There’s a huge need to support communities, and community-driven programs, in meaningful partnership with other organizations.

Some youth and Elders have pointed to a growing culture of “elitism” and exclusion where they are often not even invited to participate in conferences, trade shows and other events. In our consultations and engagements, we’ve heard multiple concerns about how information asymmetry is regularly used against Inuit and Indigenous-owned businesses as another major challenge. Sometimes we don’t even hear about opportunities like conferences, trade shows and special until it’s too late to apply for funding. This is happening more and more often, youth and Elders are often an afterthought instead of a top priority.

A renewed commitment to inclusive relationship development and engagement is needed to build up and develop the capacity communities, chambers of commerce and industry associations need. That’s why we’re designing Niriqatiginnga with a focus on supporting and increasing the participation of northern Indigenous community members and businesses. Northern Chambers of Commerce need to be developing programs that show a commitment to advocating on behalf of the Nunavut and Manitoba business community. We also heard how we need to focus more on incorporating cultural entrepreneurship into programs.

As a result of what we’ve heard, we work hard to ensure Niriqatiginnga not only works to preserve and promote local traditions but to also foster a sense of community and identity. This, we believe, is crucial for northern organizations that desperately need to re-engage a new generation. But this work cannot be done in isolation, and there is a great need for rebuilding regional connections.

Future-Forward Planning:

Many people are asking: Where are the northern programs? How many programs are driven by northern Indigenous community members? There are many challenges these days for the economy and we need to see a lot more capacity building and leadership development. Many people have retired, moved on from jobs and school, and many communities are just tapped out from being busy with the huge workload they already have.

Skills Development and Leadership Nurturing:

But who will do the work if there is no capacity?

What have we heard about the need for skills and leadership development? Building up the capacity many (particularly smaller) communities need will involve long-term skills development and training. These kinds of activities need to be led by community members, not by non-Indigenous consultants.

As a community program, Niriqatiginnga is not just about immediate economic gains but also about nurturing the skills, knowledge, and networks of future leaders. There’s a huge need for a renewed emphasis on developing the next generation of business leaders.

How can we bring back a sense of community, where Chamber Members and partners invest in mentorship programs, educational initiatives, and networking opportunities? Years ago, there were all sorts of activities, but these days there’s very little. We need to learn to build new things as a community.

Enhancing Collaboration and Partnerships:

It’s all about partnerships.

Connection. Collaboration. Networking and relationship building. Those should be areas every Chamber of Commerce focuses on more these days. It’s a topic that many of us are planning to discuss next February. The theme for the 2024 Northern Perspectives Conference is “Strengthening Relationships.” And for us, that’s probably the most important area we have been focusing on as we start to build up our own project and program capacity.

Strategic Alignment with Regional Goals:

Aligning our program design with the Arctic and Northern Strategy Framework and Nutrition North Canada program from the beginning, Niriqatiginnga demonstrates an understanding of broader regional goals and economic priorities. Our activities are also designed to align with priorities of the Framework to Build a Green Prairies Economy.

Also, as a program driven by KCC Members and community volunteers, Niriqatiginnga provides an emergent model for new and modernized programming that is not only representative and adaptable but addresses the need for new, inclusive, and forward-thinking strategies. Infusing creativity, inclusivity, and a commitment to future leaders, organizations like currently-struggling organizations could have the potential to not only rejuvenate its membership, but to also lay the foundation for more sustainable and impactful business and entrepreneurship programming across our regions.

Continue the conversations!

We had so many conversations about Chambers of Commerce and how we need a stronger northern network that we’re planning to continue this conversation during Northern Perspectives 2024 in Winnipeg this coming February 2024. Northern Perspectives is a business and cultural showcase of Nunavut with focus on expanding the economic opportunities within Nunavut and partnership opportunities with businesses from Manitoba.

The conference session component will focus on what is happening in Nunavut and explore opportunities that are available while looking at ways to strengthen economic ties and build partnerships that can help assist Nunavut and Nunavut businesses reach their true potential.

We still don’t know what the schedules are for Northern Perspectives 2024 Winnipeg, and their web site seems to be dead for the last few years. So we are keeping our own schedule and will have some activities on our own, and others that we’ll attend the conference for.

For those who would like to join us, and would be interested in exploring what some new approaches and models could look like, drop us a note at niriqatiginnga@gmail.com. We’d really like to hear from you!